Tips for Staying Healthy With AAT Deficiency

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: Even the name for this inherited lung problem can be hard to understand. You may have no symptoms, or you may feel short of breath often with AAT deficiency. But whatever your situation, you can take steps at home and at work to feel your best.

Many people with AAT deficiency live active, fulfilling lives.

Recommended Related to COPD

Quitting smoking is a top priority for all smokers, but if you have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) it's even more urgent.
Here's why: If you quit, it might be possible to slow down the disease and lessen the toll it takes on your breathing, but only if you cut out cigarettes permanently -- and soon.
Here's how to do it, starting today.

These moves can protect your lungs from damage and may help you breathe easier.

1. Don't smoke.

"The most important thing in those with [AAT deficiency] is to stop smoking," says Edward Eden, MD, of St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals in New York City.

If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how to quit. If you've tried before, keep trying. Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health. It's normal for it to take several tries before it lasts.

2. Avoid pollen, dust, fumes, and secondhand smoke.

One easy way is to wear a mask when irritants are flying. Slip on a mask when moving boxes in a warehouse or mowing the lawn.

"Someone who sandblasts or paints for a living should be wearing a respirator mask," says Susan Metcalf, a nurse practitioner with Pulmonary Disease Specialists of Central Florida.

But even people with harmless-seeming jobs, like mail carriers, can be exposed to pollen and air pollution. "If patients have a little bit of asthma mixed in with their emphysema," Eden says, "they should avoid triggers for their asthma attacks, such as pollen, dust, and ozone."

Before you head outside, check the Air Quality Index and plan your day accordingly. The index can change during the day, so check it often. When air quality is poor, plan your outdoor activities for the morning or when the air is cleaner, and try to avoid areas where traffic is heavy.